Saturday, April 17, 2010

There is something about the first burst of spring green that awakens the senses. Scintillating shades of vibrant chartreuse remind us that new beginnings are on the way. The earth beneath our feet yields with each instep, flaunting its fertility as it stirs our own desire to make the dormant manifest in our lives.

Each of us has an olfactive palette that reminds us of spring. With it we gauge the season and review memories of the people, places and things that have shaped our lives. We also have a gustative palette which allows us to express the light of longer days and ensuing verdancy. This recipe for Persian Lime Poppy Seed Cake, developed by Glass Petal Smoke, is an ode to a fleeting moment in time. The combination of citrus zest and lime oil creates a bright backdrop against earthy poppy seed. The result intoxicates taste buds with a tender sensuous crumb and deeply refreshing flavor. Seasons may come and go, but with Persian Lime Poppy Seed Cake, spring can resurrected with the turn of an oven dial.

Smell & Tell Event Schedule

Planning for Fall 2017 Smell & Tell programming is in the works. Enjoy the summer and Stay tuned!

Radio Interviews

WQKL-FM 107.1 radio host Martin Bandykeinterviews Michelle Krell Kydd about the sense of smell on the fifth anniversary of the Smell and Tell series at the Ann Arbor District Library. You can listen to it here. (January 25, 2017)

Three interviews in 30 days with Michelle Krell Kydd on NPR affiliate stations; because the sense of smell matters.

The Evangelist of Aroma

TEDx Talk by Michelle Krell Kydd

"Secrets from a Trained Nose," is a TEDx UofM talk given by Michelle Krell Kydd on March 20, 2015 at The Power Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Click on the image above to view the video which is featured on YouTube.

COMMUNICATOR EXPLORES SENSE OF SMELL, PROMOTES INTERDISCIPLINARITY

Lights, Camera, Action

This video is an outtake from an event at The University of Michigan. It was shot during last year's Polar Vortex. If you ever wondered about how all things "Glass Petal Smoke" got started, you'll find out here.

The Author and The Site

Glass Petal Smoke was created out of a personal passion for things olfactive and gustatory. The back story regarding a raw material or finished product is often rich with history, myth and folklore. When all of these aspects are brought together, they tell a story of our common humanity, as expressed through the senses.
Because Glass Petal Smoke is a blog, an element of cyber anthropology infuses the space in which it exists. Culture is about human nature and people who love food and fragrance are acutely aware of the connection between the senses and memory. Glass Petal Smoke appeals to readers who possess such awareness and those who aspire to it.
I hope you find inspiration, joy and wonder in the pages of Glass Petal Smoke and share whatever happiness it brings you with others.
Editorial queries may be sent to the editor at glasspetalsmoke [at] gmail dot com.

Dedication * Copyright

In memory of Chris Whitley, Karin Berg, Pablo Neruda and all who traverse the earth in their absence, souls who know that the space between the seen and the unseen is the most interesting place to be...